Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A fascinating view of a world that I'll never encounter - surely the very best basis for a book. This didn't disappoint. I loved the characters and the story and the sheer life the author brings to their prose. very much a recommendation from me.

This is a gloriously inspiring, lyrical and poetic debut novel from Mathangi Subramanian of an almost completely female community, of discarded women, surviving hand to mouth on a daily basis, amidst the high rises of a Bangalore indifferent to their plight. Heaven is indeed a place on earth, perhaps a suprising one, teeming with poverty, repression and oppression. But look closer, for within the impoverished community is a joy, resilence, colour and vibrancy that will charm and endear itself to you. There are challenges and obstacles galore, such as the fight against a government and its bulldozers planning to raze down Heaven and replace it with a shopping mall, a fitting symbol of our rapacious consumerist world. Amidst a wide cast of characters, there is a focus on a group of incredible diverse young girls, their remarkable friendships, their unwavering support of and loyalty to each other. There is Deepu, the wonderful blind dancer, the transgender Joy, a recently arrived migrant to Heaven, Padma, the artist, Banu and still coming to terms with her sexuality, Rukshana. This is a beautifully written novel, where within poverty and squalor, shot through with dreams and hope that survive amongst everyday bleak realities. It speaks of mother-daughter relationships, the strength drawn from close supportive friendships, and the power of women in a world that deals them such poor cards in life. This is a fabulous read which I loved, just pure heaven! Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.

What a strange but good book. A stunning tale of the unconditional love between best friend
The author has an unusual but amazing writing style. Very poetic and descriptive
This book is powerful and uplifting. The storytelling is divine
I can’t wait for this authors next book

This book narrates the life stories of five young girls who grow up in a slum called "Heaven" in Bangalore, and while it touches upon numerous social issues, the tone remains light and playful - this is the highly accessible cousin of Arundhati Roy's "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness". In an attempt to reflect the diversity of the slum population, Subramanian introduces characters with different religious beliefs and family backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations as well as physical disabilities. Connected by their common faith of being female in a patriarchal society, our main characters Rukshana, Joy, Deepa, Banu, and Padma stick together and try to overcome various obstacles, mainly the planned destruction of "Heaven" which is threatened to be demolished so a new shopping mall can be build. The girls are the ones who drive the action forward, who determine the focus and direction of the book while learning to speak up for themselves. And while this is certainly heart-warming and sends a positive message of female empowerment through solidarity, the text sometimes dangerously ventures into kitsch territory.

I really enjoyed how the author employs the first person plural as a narrative voice: This is very hard to pull off without sounding pretentious, and Subramanian's version of this stunt reads effortless and natural. In addition to that, she is jumping between characters and timelines, thus also shining a light on the destinies of the girls' mothers and grandmothers, which gives the story a historic dimension. We hear about the impact of poverty, casteism and sexism, about forced sterilization, the longing for education and the pressure to become a wife and mother, and all of these vignettes are told with great empathy.

Subramanian is a former public school teacher and education expert, and this novel would certainly also be suitable for younger reading audiences: It doesn't require any prior knowledge of India, refrains from using strong language or explicit imagery and is generally - let's face it - not particularly challenging to read. But it is certainly a well-written, intelligent, entertaining novel and full of heart.

A People's History of Heaven is a novel about friendship, strength, and a fight for home as a group of young women fight to defend the slum they live in. Heaven is a Bangalore slum scheduled for destruction, but for five girls on the cusp of adulthood, it is the place they have been and become themselves. Banu knows how to build and create beautiful things but isn't good at school, Padma wants to keep studying though first she needs to keep her mother in a job, Rukshana has carved out her version of womanhood and fell in a love with a girl in a tree, Joy isn't sure what the future holds for a transgender Christian convert, and Deepa dances better than the rest of them but is treated differently due to her blindness. Despite their various circumstances, families, and religions, the five are a tight knit group, and they're not going to let their home go without a fight.

The novel moves between their lives, past and present, using the first person plural to give a sense of their connectedness, an entity that celebrates one another and fights together. As much as it is about Heaven (the slum), it is also about how these girls have grown up and become who they are in that moment. The characters are vibrant and memorable, and Subramanian's writing really creates a vivid picture of them and their lives. It makes you constantly want to know more about these characters and what might happen to them beyond the confines of the novel, but also carefully weaves together the stories to build up the narrative.

A People's History of Heaven is a joyous and surprising novel that celebrates variation whilst not shying away from some of the realities that people face. It is the kind of book you can't help but recommend to people or give as a gift to someone looking for something new and fresh.